What I’m Watching: Ray Donovan

Ray Donovan: Season 2, Episode 4 “S U C K” (A-)

I think it’s fair to call this episode transformative since it really moved ahead a few major plotlines and saw them through from one point at the start of the episode to a wholly different place by the end. Ray and Kate sleeping together was merely a continuation of the flirtation that began at the end of last episode, and it morphed into something much more serious by the end of the hour when Ray stepped in to protect Kate and then wanted nothing more than to sleep with her at the end of a trying and exhausting day. Ray trying to prove to Cochrane that he isn’t a bagman and has morals took a toll on him, especially considering the way that he tried to make Tiny happy in his last moments. Cochrane, on the other hand, got motivated by his fearsome wife and sprang into action in a frightening way, taking charge and leaving no stone unturned. His brief but bold fondling of his houseguest suggests some serious dirt to be had, but he doesn’t seem ready to be messed with, so I would be concerned about how Ray might try to use that. Mickey’s not doing well since his sons are rightfully shutting him out, and now he’s off presumably to some hole where he won’t even have family members to reject him. Bunchy was sweet to build the kid in his store a bike, and let’s hope a harmless romance doesn’t get him into trouble. I love the emphasis being put on Abby’s accent and her efforts to tone it down, and love the idea of her having an affair, realized or not, with a cop, something that’s sure to make Ray go ballistic at just the wrong time if he finds out.

What I’m Watching: The Last Ship

The Last Ship: Season 1, Episode 7 “SOS” (C+)

I told myself that I was going to stop watching this episode midway through if it wasn’t enthralling. It feels like a waste to give up on a show so close to the end of its season, but I do feel fully confident that I won’t be picking it up again next year. This episode did proceed forward in two major areas, one of which is a cure – which may be found and utilized, but will likely change the framework of the show since it will be in high demand to help create a new world order, which could prove to be a very interesting plotline – and one of which was the Russians rearing their ugly heads again. Tom was admittedly a bit dramatic, and Tex too much of the contradictory comic relief, in his adamant refusal to be rescued. That said, his command not to be saved actually revealed his location and put his men at risk. The way in which his rescue was revealed was somewhat well-done, particularly because of how much the joy in Tex’s face and his own reaction was contrasted so much by the disgust he wore and the dread the audience was prompted to feel when it was clear that it was actually the Russians who pulled him out of the water. I’d still prefer that there were larger operations at work about government structure and not just a modern-day cold war going on at sea with two minimal players, and it would be nice to see the show shift towards that going forward.

What I’m Watching: True Blood

True Blood: Season 7, Episode 7 “May Be the Last Time” (B+)

It’s hard to believe that we’re so close to the end here, with just three episodes left. It does seem that things are progressing pretty intensely, with a few forgotten elements of the show – like Nigel and Hoyt – returning to make appearances and other things advancing in a troubling manner. It’s hard to move forward with these repeated instant burstings of fringe characters like Sarah’s poor sister, who got herself healed and then murdered in a fit of rage by an impatient Eric. Sarah’s certainly not doing too well, freaking out and hallucinating three miserable exes before being presumably and predictably captured and exploited by vampires who hate her and the Yakuza. After some awkwardness with the sex toys, Adilyn and Wade managed to get to a good place, but that’s just when Violet revealed her hand, which seems like a great way to get revenge on Jessica for sleeping with Jason. Let’s hope that plan doesn’t succeed. Unaware that a cure exists, Sookie seemed to be impressed by what she saw Bill remembering and was inspired to jump back into bed with him, an important decision that brings the show back to its origins, when these two were a close couple and Sookie actually had some sort of purpose. Arlene also got a rare opportunity to be thrown for a loop, with her world utterly rocked by her new vampire friend. Happy endings may be in store after all for a few of our Bon Temps friends, but I can’t imagine they’ll all make it out alive.

What I’m Watching: Hell on Wheels (Season Premiere)

Hell on Wheels: Season 4, Episode 1 “The Elusive Eden” (B+)

This show always catching me off guard since it’s just about the only series to regularly premiere in August, but it’s also one of the most underrated and generally consistent shows that I feel like a lot of people don’t know about. Watching a train falls through the ice makes quite an impression, and it’s that kind of sight which I think will dominate this season. Maggie is taking on a much more aggressive role than in the past, and she’s casting herself as a major nemesis for Durant, who tried his best to manipulate his misfortune but failed miserably, getting himself evicted from his hotel. Those in Cheyenne don’t seem to be doing too well, as Mickey is struggling to maintain his role as the mayor, and Eva, following the apparent departure of Elam, who may or may not be dead after his fight with the bear, is in terrible shape, best described by Mickey as not wanting to be pulled out of the mud. Jake Weber’s new provisional mayor, appointed by Grant himself, is sure to find plenty wrong with Cheyenne and Hell on Wheels when he arrives. Cullen’s situation isn’t turning out exactly as I might have expected, mainly because Naomi does care from him and is clearly unhappy that he doesn’t feel the same, and after the Swede trapped him in the well, he came running when all she could do in childbirth was call his name. Seeing him start to pray was a shock, though of course he couldn’t remember much, and it’s hard to outdo the Swede’s marvelous show of speaking in tongues. Cullen telling the Swede that he’s taking his family with him suggests that there will be a big showdown to come, and that Cullen’s path to the railroad is hardly as easy as, say, escaping a death sentence or getting out of jail.

What I’m Watching: The Killing (Season Premiere)

The Killing: Season 4, Episode 1 “Blood in the Water” (B-)

I would have had no idea that this show premiered its fourth season (all six episodes) on Netflix on Friday had I not seen an advertisement on the web. I’m still in disbelief that the show has now been resurrected twice when I don’t think anyone was clamoring for it. People loved the first season, were frustrated by the second season after an ill-advised cliffhanger at the end of season two, and then didn’t really have much to say when AMC brought it back for a third season and then cancelled. Yet somehow Netflix thought it fit to revive ahead of so many actually beloved shows. I personally liked season two better than season one and season three about as much as season two, but I still don’t feel it merited a resurrection. That’s especially true since the devastating finale of season three didn’t need a follow-up episode where Linden and Holder have to dodge questions about where they were or what they were up to in the wake of Linden’s murder of Skinner following the revelation of his part in perpetrating the crimes they had been investigating. The haunting sight – and sound – of Skinner’s daughter pounding on Linden’s door crying for her father was far more effective, and I don’t see how they’re going to get out of this one. The new case is immensely disturbing, even more so than their previous two. This show has always been dark and managed to provide decent engagement and drama, and so I see no reason not to watch the five remaining episodes, one per week as I’ve been doing with other Netflix series, to see where it all goes and if it finally ends this time.

What I’m Watching: Orange is the New Black

Orange is the New Black: Season 2, Episode 9 “40 Oz of Furlough” (B+)

Furlough is finally here, and as expected, it’s not quite the breath of fresh air that getting out of prison for a few days might seem to be. While Piper’s brother comically picking her up might have suggested otherwise, every comic moment on the outside was laced with unfortunate drama, namely the incessant comments Piper had to make to rebuke people’s questions at the funeral about her current status in prison. Her encounter with Larry was the most lamentable, since she wanted nothing more than to jump his bones and he felt it necessary to confess his own indiscretion – though not the complete story – rather than make the most of the moment. Back in prison, things are heating up, both with the illegal operations underway and the attempted crackdown by John so that he can get rid of Pornstache. Two irreversible and equally regrettable decisions were made – John telling Caputo that Pornstache impregnated Dayonara and Big Boo tipping Vee off about how Red is running her operation. The former is sure to throw Dayonara’s life into turmoil and all but assures that she’ll never forgive John. The latter seems petty since Red was nothing more than sarcastic to Big Boo, still including her in the family meal she prepared, and it’s even more unfortunate given what the flashbacks revealed about their initial friendship and then Vee’s heartless order to take control of her operation and physically assault her. It’s a far cry from Vee recommending “The Fault in Our Stars” to Rosa in the present day. I truly appreciated the rare tender moment between Healy and Pennsatucky, and I hope we’ll have the chance to sit in on some of their heart-to-hearts.

Take Three: You’re the Worst

You’re the Worst: Season 1, Episode 3 “Keys Open Doors” (B+)

Watching this show, I think I feel some inherent need to defend it, as if it’s set up to be bad and happens to be much better than that, but I need to keep reminding others of its quality. I think that inclination comes from knowing that some of the shows I really like – say “Ben and Kate” or “Welcome to the Family,” for instance – get unceremoniously cancelled and then it turns out that no one else liked them anyway. This show does feature some typical sitcom tropes, like Jimmy following Gretchen after he sees a text message suggesting that she is going on a date, but it’s all done in such an entertaining manner that it’s not problematic or unoriginal. Beginning with Jimmy and Gretchen’s shared fascination over another use of the shower sprayer, this episode explored Gretchen’s offhand remark about getting a key, which prompted Jimmy to go into full-rant mode about the significance of such a gesture. I enjoyed watching Edgar staple the phone into a bag, which of course didn’t keep Jimmy from prying. Gretchen worked some impressive magic with her client’s offended journalist, though that turned out much differently than expected as well. I like that, after Jimmy followed Gretchen and then gave Ty plenty of attitude, she opted to introduce him as the guy she’s sleeping with, prompting a surprisingly warm reception from Lindsay. This episode was truly funny, and I’m glad to see that it’s not getting old and only getting more hilarious as it continues.

Pilot Review: The Honorable Woman

The Honorable Woman (Sundance)
Premiered July 31 at 10pm

It’s quite interesting to see that both BBC Two in the United Kingdom and the Sundance Channel in the United States are premiering a series about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at this moment of time. I doubt that those behind this show could have foreseen what would be happening now in the Middle East last year when production first began, and how timely this might prove. This coproduced-series airs its sixth and final installment in the U.K. next week, almost a month ahead of its U.S. airdates. What’s been constructed here is an attempt to portray a balanced view of the conflict through the lens of an Israeli-born British woman holding an esteemed position in the British government and seeking to better the lives of the Palestinian people by sharing resources otherwise unavailable to them. It’s an ambitious idea, certainly, but it ends up being rather muddled in the middle, trying too hard to remain unbiased and therefore achieving little edge. Compared with FX’s “Tyrant,” which has created a fictional Middle Eastern country for its conflict, this show is more believable in some senses but far less compelling in others. Its ending was more tedious than anything else, and its frequent time jumps aren’t helpful in establishing a narrative. In terms of casting, Maggie Gyllenhaal is a solid choice for the complicated lead character, and she’s supported well by the likes of Stephen Rea and Genevieve O’Reilly in the ensemble cast. I so want to be intrigued by and involved in this show, but this first installment was far from satisfying.

How will it work as a series? This is only a eight-episode miniseries, so the plot can be more contained and less expansive. Still, tackling the broad strokes of what was outlined in this first installment may take longer than that, especially considering the different time periods in which the show takes place. I think it may all be too much.
How long will it last? Being a miniseries, this show isn’t necessarily expected to return. That said, “True Detective” and “Fargo” bucked that notion, and so maybe this might be back again. I doubt that it’s going to be the case, however, since I think that strong critical notices won’t be able to overcome viewership numbers and a generally controversial topic.

Pilot grade: C+

Take Three: Married

Married: Season 1, Episode 3 “The Getaway” (B+)

I think this may be my favorite installment of this show yet. There’s something inherently familiar about it, yet many of the scenes are extremely funny and enjoyable. Nat Faxon’s sarcastic delivery of his suggestion to the doctor that he might as well cut it all off was brilliant, and Judy Greer does a magnificent job rattling off her one-liners as well. Their vasecti-moon was a blast, featuring the predictable problem of a younger couple with a much better sex life seemingly competing right next door. Russ’ poor advice to the husband resulted in a great unexpected moment of mature bonding between Russ and Lina and then some tremendous, long-awaited sex after that. Their plotline was great, but I actually enjoyed events back at Jess’ house more. We finally got to meet her “older husband,” played by none other than Paul Reiser, who it turns out is a relatively nice guy who enjoy seeing her squirm because he realizes and is fully aware of who she is and who he is. He clearly enjoyed his participation in her forced sexting, and I like that they shared a moment at the end where he acknowledged her for who she is. Jenny Slate does a great job of playing crazy on “House of Lies” and “Parks and Recreation,” but it’s nice to know that she is equally capable of portraying a relatively ordinary character who’s still just as funny. I really hope this show continues, because I’m liking it more and more as it goes on.

What I’m Watching: Rectify

Rectify: Season 2, Episode 7 “Weird as You” (B)

There was something undeniably hypnotic about this episode, that’s for sure. While part of it has to do with Daniel’s drug trip, it has more to do with Daniel trying to discover himself. I’ve found that more effective in the past when less has been said, but recently Daniel has been making plenty of friends and his life has started to look very different. What he got in this episode was confirmation of just one thing: that he really doesn’t know what happened. Hearing about how he couldn’t perform and that could have driven him into a murderous rage makes him have to consider what he could have been capable of, even though he really can’t discern what did or didn’t happen. Ultimately, his guilt isn’t relevant if Jon goes to trial and can’t wait. Serving ten more years in prison hardly seems like a fitting fate for Daniel, who would likely go nuts if he had to go back inside following his unexpected bout with freedom. Watching Amantha try to be polite while the customer was counting out cash trying to get to $41, only to come out twenty cents short, was both amusing and painful, and she seems to be ready to just about everything wrong in this position. Getting stoned with her coworker and going into the tire store to ask Teddy for the keys to the vending machine was an interesting idea, but it certainly was fun to watch Amantha and Teddy have their most pleasant yet truly bizarre interaction yet.

What I’m Watching: The Bridge

The Bridge: Season 2, Episode 4 “The Acorn” (B+)

It’s always reassuring when a show as multi-faceted as this brings its characters all together for a rare opportunity to be on the same page, or at least near each other in close chapters. Daniel and Adriana went to talk to Mr. DeLarge right before he killed himself, prompting Marco to come talk to them when he and Sonya caught the case, while Galvan officially pardoned Charlotte and Ray before meeting in person with none other than Eleanor, who started all this by visiting DeLarge and a result exposing the corrupt nature of what he was doing. Among this episode’s most interesting moments were the death of Jim Dobbs and the subsequent transformation of whatever Sonya and Jack into what might be termed a real relationship. Marco looked truly surprised when his visit to the bank brought him face-to-face with Sebastian Cerisola, played by Demian Bichir’s real-life brother Bruno, and it really underlines the overarching nature of how corrupt the entire system is. I like that Ray was obsessed with talking about tacos and children while Charlotte was trying to figure a way out of everything, and it seems like they’re off the hook for now, though I doubt it will be that simple. Eleanor continually asking if it’s safe and then refusing to stop humming was just more of her odd behavior, and she managed to hold her own opposite Galvan, though clearly there’s more at work here with whoever that mysterious prisoner in the cage is, which I’m sure we’ll find out in due time.

What I’m Watching: Wilfred

Wilfred: Season 4, Episode 7 “Responsibility” (B)

It makes sense that Ryan’s first stop after his disconcerting encounter with Bruce at the end of last episode would be to go see his mother. Recasting characters is rarely a smooth process, especially when it isn’t explained away by a chameleon nature, like Bruce was last week. If I had to find someone to replace Mary Steenburgen, Mimi Rogers, who I remember most prominently from “The Loop” and later seasons of “The X-Files,” would probably be my top choice. That said, she doesn’t feel as magnetically involved in her craziness, and it’s too bad since this could have been a more effective episode with Steenburgen in the role. It’s still an excellent opportunity to see Kristen get to take the spotlight and take pride in her ability to be ruthless and cruel, effortlessly crushing her brother in a brief meanness competition. It’s frustrating in a sense that we’ll never get to know Kristen all that well since we only see her as she is perceived by Ryan, but that’s part of what makes this show so enthralling, that we never quite get the full picture, only the way Ryan sees it and occasionally tidbits of what others know to be true which throws everything we think we know out the window. Wilfred getting hit by a car and becoming a three-legged dog was a twist I didn’t see coming, mainly because it’s a concrete development beyond his temporary cone that changes Wilfred in a major way that seems, for once, not to be borne of his own devices.

What I’m Watching: Extant

Extant: Season 1, Episode 4 “Shelter” (C-)

I think that’s it for me and this show. This installment essentially ignored the fact that Molly is an astronaut, turning it into a morality lesson about alcoholism and a paranoid thriller where all the bad guys are wearing suits and performing experiments. This seemed to be initially to be something far more interesting and creative than that, and it could have played out over much longer before falling apart like this. Now, where can this show go from here? The fact that Alan’s goons were able to deactivate Ethan’s battery so easily suggests that no one could possibly have the upper hand here aside from the evil corporation, and to me that’s a lot less interesting than aliens or whatever this show is purportedly about. Molly seeing her deceased astronaut friend sitting right next to John should be proof that it’s all in her head, though her antics when she woke up on the operating table all but confirm that she’s gone off the deep end and that people are out to get her, the ultimate definition of realized paranoia. Hideki doesn’t seem to have too much regard for human life as he wanted to be sure of the effectiveness of the work going on and felt it necessary to facilitate a man’s death. Molly’s father utilizing Ethan to win money in a bar game was highly ill-advised, and the only worthwhile thing to come from it was Ethan’s deliberate miss in an attempt to prove his imperfect nature.

What I’m Watching: Tyrant

Tyrant: Season 1, Episode 6 “What the World Needs Now” (C)

Conceptually speaking, this show is fantastic. Watching a dictator try to appeal to his people by suggesting free elections is a marvelous idea, and it’s great that this show is featuring that. The problem is that it’s literally just Bassam whispering in one ear while every single other advisor tells Jamal that he shouldn’t make these kinds of offers and that the status quo should stand. Jamal referring to the Sheikh as Bassam’s boyfriend is petty and reveals just how wounded he is by the perception that he is Jamal’s puppet, and you’d think that he wouldn’t let that stand when it’s one against everyone else. It also doesn’t seem too plausible that the Sheikh would be the ideal candidate for President given his waning health, and he might have done well to appoint a successor in his place so that a free election resulting in his victory wouldn’t be undone just days or months later by his untimely demise. We’ll never know since Jamal was nice enough to help the Sheikh along via a brutal bashing of his head on a toilet, demonstrating how much he cares about his pride and his reputation. We missed those three crucial weeks during which public opinion might have shifted, and now Jamal has managed to undo it all with one fiery moment of anger. The fallout surely won’t be good, and Jamal is definitely going to go after his brother for allowing his position as an advisor and go-between to make him seem like he was pulling Jamal’s strings.

What I’m Watching: Longmire

Longmire: Season 3, Episode 9 “Counting Coup” (B+)

I would definitely describe this episode as explosive, charging through a few major plotlines to set up an even more violent and thrilling season finale next week. Starting out with Vic and Walt trying to find Branch transformed the usual dynamic of the show, and having Branch run in, frantic to find help locating Bridges, only to be put in a cell after attacking Vic was an unsettling sight. The most surprising part of it all was Ferg’s reaction, so frustrated with being kept in the dark and never told anything that he spoke up to Walt – a big deal for him – and then later so intimidated by Branch’s father that he gave in and released him for the sake of protecting his own father’s livelihood. Though it was mostly out of spite, it’s good that Vic opted to go look at Bridges’ car, not that it did much good for keeping Branch from trying to do his own detective work. Seeing him with the shotgun demonstrated just how off-the-rails he is, so set on finding Bridges that he can’t see straight and doesn’t mind who he hurts along the way. His father coming to his aid seemed like more of a punishment than anything else, since he basically told him not to die because then he would no longer have a son. Walt’s near-fatal encounter at the end of the episode finally confirmed that Branch has been telling the truth, and let’s just hope that it’s not too late to prevent one of our beloved cops from losing their lives. Henry acted extraordinarily recklessly by nearly burning down his bar to get Malachai to talk, and he’s going to need all the help he can get to combat him in court as well.